Specialized launches lace-up S-works 7 shoe
We take Spesh’s latest road shoe out for a spin
Hot on the heel cups of the S-works Recon Lace gravel shoe, which launched last year, Specialized has launched a lace-up version of its flagship S-works 7 road shoe.
The S-works 7 Lace is the fourth offshoot of the all-rounder pro-level shoe, joining the S-works Exos, the S-works Vent and the S-works Ares.
Specialized describes the S-works Lace as being “born from the winningest race shoe in the world but made for the booming ride culture… it takes the Worldtour performance of the S-works 7 and combines it with laces to create one of our most supple and adaptable uppers for next-level fit. Combined with our Body Geometry technology for optimum foot, knee, and ankle alignment, going fast never looked so good.”
With its laces, the shoe effectively offers 12 separate points of tension adjustment (via six eyelets each side of the closure) to dial in a perfect hold.
The upper, made from what Spesh describes as “engineered mesh” – think synthetic perforated leather – is designed to adapt to a wider range of foot shapes.
Additionally, the removal of plastic hardware such as Boa dials also removes a considerable amount of weight. Specialized claims a weight of 236 grams per shoe for the size 44 – our sample
44s weighed just 5g more than that, with a weight for both shoes of 482g.
The S-works Ares, which we reviewed last year, weighed 255 grams per shoe while the regular S-works 7 weighs slightly more than the Ares.
However, all the S-works 7 shoes share Specialized’s FACT Powerline carbon outsole – its lightest and stiffest.
The S-works 7 Lace also gets the Padlock heel cup, which reinforces and securely holds the rear of the foot.
And finally, all high-end Specialized products get the Body Geometry treatment. Specialized explains this as: “The human body evolved to walk, not pedal, which leads to power-robbing foot collapse, misalignment of the foot, knee, and hip, as well as ‘hot foot’ in traditional cycling shoes. Body Geometry shoes, including the new S-works 7 Lace, solve these problems with three patented technologies to deliver a painfree increase in power that’s validated by scientific testing and two decades of well-documented ass kicking.” These three technologies are the varus wedge, longitudinal arch and metatarsal button.
The S-works 7 Lace has an RRP of £300, which is quite a bit cheaper than the S-works 7 (£370), the S-works Ares (£375), the S-works Vent (£399) and S-works Exos (£450). Available in white, black and a more out-there ‘vivid coral/cast umber’.
First ride - Simon Smythe
When I reviewed the S-works Ares last year, I found the right one to be possibly the best cycling shoe I’ve ever used, combining a locked-in feel with supreme comfort and unbelievably efficient power transfer, while the left one was… absolutely excruciating. The shape of the carbon Powerline sole just wasn’t the same as the shape (or lack of) of my arch and there was no way of adjusting the shoe to make it more comfortable.
That was the whole point of the Ares – the Boas didn’t need to be cranked down because the upper was designed to envelop the foot and do the job for them. However, based on my first ride on the S-works 7 Lace, my left foot is every bit as comfortable as my right.
Despite the same FACT carbon
Powerline sole underpinning the shoe, the upper is much more adaptable thanks to the laces. Yes, I can still feel where the sole isn’t exactly right for my left foot shape but it’s very easy to tension the laces so that that section of the foot isn’t being pressed into the shoe. The cleat is forward of that point and although the stiff sole is intended to distribute the pressure evenly over the whole foot, it’s still the forefoot rather than the arch that is compressed over the pedal.
The 44 comes up true to size, like the other shoes in the S-works 7 range. Again like them, it seems aimed at a narrower foot but has plenty of space in the toe box.
Looks-wise, the S-works 7 Lace is pure classic style – it’s beautifully made and perfectly stitched. There’s lots of lovely detail, from the large embossed S-works side logos down to the tiny S-works logos on the lace tips.
Pristine white shoes aren’t for night rides on muddy lanes at the beginning of January, but when the sun comes out I think these are going to be the best looking, best performing shoes out there.
“Looks-wise, the S-works 7 Lace is pure classic style”